Garment cutting machine



Nov. 25, 1941. E. STANZIALE GARMENT CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1940T agiii 19 2 i8 r 7 Z2 11 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,263,706 GARMENT CUT-TING MACHINE Enrico Stanziale, WhitePlains, N. Y. Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,262

17 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in garment cutting machines,particularly for use by tailors and dressmakers for cutting off thelower edges or skirts and the like in trimming and leveling the same soas to obtain the proper length thereof. I

Various devices have been proposed heretofore for trimming the loweredge of a skirt, but these have been generally unsatisfactory becausethey have required the manipulation of shears and other manuallyoperated cutters for removing the edge portion of the skirt.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of a skirttrimming machine to provide for its operation by power, as well as toprovide for adjustment-of the height of the cutter, so that the loweredge of the dress may be cutoff while it is being fitted either on aperson or on a dress form and to the proper height desired. I Thisobject is accomplishedby the provision of a cutting machine that isadapted for rolling movement to move about the person or dress form onwhich the. dress is being fitted and is provided with power drivingcutting elements that are adjustable in height and which will shear thedesired portion ofthe dress to the height desired, and in a simple andeffective manner. The cutting elements are adapted to be mounted onstandards arranged inside and outside of the skirt and coacting to shearthe edge portion therefrom, with provision for adjusting the cuttingelements to the same uniform height on the standards as desired, one ofthe cutting elements being power driven from a source of power on themachine. p

The invention is embodied in a preferred form thereof illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. l is a side elevation of th'e complete machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view-of one end portion thereof illustrating thecutting and adiusting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of the cuttingelements. v

The machine is adapted for bodily movement about the person ordress-form on which the dress is being fitted, for which purpose it isconstructed with a base I, mounted-on casters or swivel rollers 2,capable of swinging movement n all directions relative to the base I forrolling movement of the machine in any desired direction, I

Mounted on thebase I are sockets 3 receiving therein and supporting apair of upstanding parallel standards 4 in the form of rods, which arerigidly mounted in the sockets 3 for maintaining theproper relationtherebetween.

A cutter head 5 extends transversely between the standards 4 and isprovided with a pair of ears 6 at each opposite end thereof slidablyreceiving the corresponding standard 4. The ears 6 are spaced apart andhave mounted therebetween an.L-shaped lever I journaled on thecorresponding rod 4 for swinging movement relative thereto. Each lever'I is provided with an enlarged cam-shaped portion 8 on the heelthereofin position to bear against the base 9 of the bifurcation of the ears 6when the lever is turned to the position shown at th'e bottom of Fig. 2in which position said lever frictionally locks the cutter head 5 to therod 4, as will be described more in detail hereafter.

The cutter head 5 is provided with a guideway I0 extending transverselytherethrough, within' which guideway is slidably mounted a cutting bladeII, the forward edge portion (at the left in Figs. I and 2) is sharpenedto form a shearing edge. The cutting blade II has a transverse slot I2therein in which is received an eccentric pin l3 attached to anoperating shaft I4 which is driven by a flexible cable I5 from anelectric motor 16 mounted on the base I, Thus, the operation of theelectric motor causes rotation of the flexible cable I5 and its endshaft I4 to reciprocate the cutting blade II back and forth in thecutter head 5.

The cutting blade cooperates with a shearing blade I! mounted in ashearing head I8 secured in a stationary position on a standard I9 bylocking means such as set screws 20.

The shearing head I8 is provided with bifurcated arms 2| on oppositesides thereofadapted to receive therein the locking arms of the L-shaped levers I, as shown at the top in Fig. 2, for uniform adjustmentof the heads 5 and I8, to corresponding positions on the standards,while maintaining the shearing relation of the blades II and I1.

, The standard I9 is provided with graduations of linear measurement,such as inches, as represented by the numeral 22 in Fig. I to indicatethe height from the floor of th'e shearing out being made by themachine.

The standard I9 is supported by a bracket 23, preferably having apivotal connection 24 therewith to permit of limited swinging movementof the standard I9 away from the standards 4. The

movement of the standard l9 toward the standards 4 is controlled by anadjusting screw 25 carried by an upstanding arm 26 attached to thebracket 23, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to provide the proper extent ofshearing relation between the blades II and II.

The standards 4 and I9 are held in their proper positions relative toeach other, substantially parallel, by a bolt 21 which extends throughthe standard I9 and through a yoke 28 extending between the standards 4,having a thumb nut 29 on the bolt 21 for drawing up the connectionbetween the standards and holding these in their properly adjustedpositions relative to each other.

In using this cutting machine, the two L-shaped levers I are both turnedwith their locking arms engaging in the bifurcated arms 2| of the headIB, which releases the frictional connection of the head 5 with thestandards 4, permitting said head to slide vertically relative thereto.Then, upon release of the locking screws 20, the two heads may beadjusted vertically on the standards to the proper and desired positionaccording to the length of skirt to be provided. Then, upon tighteningthe screws 20 on the standards IS, the heads 5 and I8 are locked intheir set positions. Then first one and then the other of the levers Iare swung to their retracted positions out of engagement with thebifurcated arms 2|, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 2, which leaves thespace between the heads free, and this swinging movement also turns thecam portions 8 into binding relation with the bottom portions 9 of thebifurcations of the arms 6 which secures the cutting head 5 infrictional binding relation with the standards, locking the cutting headin a set'position thereon while maintaining the same relation betweenthe same and the shearing head I8 for proper shearing action of theblades. If desired, one of the levers 1 may be left in interlockedrelation with the bifurcated arm 2l during the operation of the machineas shown in Fig. 2. 7

To insert the cloth or dress to be cut, the nut 29 is preferablyreleased, permitting swinging movement of the standard 1-9 away from thestandards 4 and cutting head 5 thereon which permits the cloth or dressto be inserted therebetween. This should be done preferably before the-adjustment as to height, and after insertion of the dress between thestandards, the standard I9 is moved back to the position shown in Fig. 1against the adjusting screw 25, where it is held in place by the bolt 21in its proper and desired position relative to the standards 4 formaintaining the proper cutting relation between the blades I I- and I1.Then upon operation of the motor 16, the cutting blade H is reciprocatedback and forth relative to the blade l1, producing a shearing cutthrough the cloth or dress at the proper and desired height. During suchoperation, the machine may be rolled around the form or person to trimthe entire lower edge of the dress, if desired, or the form may beturned relative to the machine to accomplish this result.

Although the invention is particularly applicable for shortening skirtsand other garments, it may be used also by manufactures of coats andother garments for cutting these to the proper and desired lengths.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of spacedcutting heads adapted to receive material therebetween for cutting,shearing means mounted on the heads for coaction to cut the material,and means for supporting the heads for vertical movement to differentadjusted positions.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofstandards adapted to receive material therebetween for cutting, cuttingelements mounted respectively on the standards in positions for coactionwith each other in cutting said material, and means for producingrelative movement between said cutting elements.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofstandards adapted to receive material therebetween for cutting, cuttingelements mounted respectively on the standards in positions for coactionwith each other in cutting said material, means for producing relativemovement between said cutting elements, and means for securing saidcutting elements in different adjustedpositions relative to thestandards.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a basehaving upstanding standards mounted thereon in opposed relation, cuttingheads mounted on the standards and having cutting elements arranged forcoaction to produce a shearing cut on material between the heads, andmeans for mounting the heads on the standards for joint verticaladjustment relative thereto to different positions and for securing saidheads thereon.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a basehaving upstanding standards mounted thereon in opposed relation, cuttingheads mounted on the standards and having cutting elements arranged forcoaction to produce a shearing cut on material between the heads, meansfor mounting the heads on the standards for joint vertical adjustmentrelative thereto to different positions and for securing said headsthereon, and power means carried by the base for causing relativeshearing movement between the cutting elements.

6. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base havingupstanding standards mounted thereon, cutting heads carried by therespective standards in opposed relation and adapted to receive agarment therebetween for cutting, said heads having cutting elementsmounted therein in positions for coacting cutting relation upon relativemovement therebetween, means for mounting the heads on the standards forvertical adjustment to diiferent vertical positions and for securingsaid heads in adjusted positions on the standards, and retractable meansfor connecting the heads together for joint adjusting thereof and forwithdrawal after adjustment to receive the garment between the heads.

7. Ina garment cutting machine, the combination of a base, upstandingstandards carried thereby, cutting heads mounted on the respectivestandards in opposed relation and having cutting elements carriedthereby in positions for coaction to cut a garment disposedtherebetween, said heads being adapted for vertical movement relative tothe standards, means for securing the heads on the standards indifferent adjusted positions relative thereto, and an arm pivotallyconnected with one of the heads in position for swinging movement intoengagement with the other coacting head for connecting said headstogether during the adjusting movement thereof of in different adjustedpositions.

8. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base, standardsmounted on the base in upstanding relation thereon and spaced apartadapted to receive a garment therebetween, cutting heads mounted on therespective standards in Opposed relation and having coacting cuttingelements in position for shearing action on the garment therebetween,said heads being adapted for verticaladjustment relative to thestandards, means for securing one of the heads on the correspondingstandard, and an arm pivotally connected with the other head in positionfor engaging the first-mentined head to cause joint adjustment of theheads to different positions, said arm having means for locking thecorresponding head on the standard when moved out of engagement with theopposite head.

9. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base havingupstanding standards mounted thereon in spaced relation adapted toreceive a garment therebetween, heads slidably mounted on the standardsin opposed relation and adapted for vertical adjustment relativethereto, cutting elements mounted on the heads in position for coactionto produce a shearing cut on the garment therebetween, means forsecuring one of the heads on its standard, an arm pivotally connectedwith the other head in position for swinging movement into interlockingengagement with the first-mentioned locking head during verticaladjustment of the heads for maintaining the relative positions of thecutting elements thereof, and means connected with said arm for lockingthe second-mentioned head on its standard when the arm is withdrawn frominterlocking engagement with the first-mentioned head and releasing saidlocking means upon engagement of said arm for joint sliding movement ofthe heads.

10. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base, a pair ofstandards mounted on said base in upstanding relation, a standardmounted on the base in opposed relation with the pair of standardsadapted to receive the garment therebetween, a shearing head mounted onthe second-mentioned standard and vertically adjustable thereon, meansfor securing said shearing head in adjusted positions relative to thesecondmentioned standard, a cutting head mounted on the pair ofstandards for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, said cuttingand shearing heads having coacting cutting elements arranged to producea shearing cut on the garment therebetween, levers journaled on thecutting head about the pair of standards and having arms in positionsfor swinging movement into engagement with the shearing head forconnecting the heads together for adjustment to different verticalpositions and adapted to be withdrawn from said connection to receive agarment between the heads, and means connected with said levers forlocking the cutting head on the pair of standards when the levers arewithdrawn from engagement with the shearing head.

11. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base, a pair ofstandards mounted on said base in upstanding relation, a standardmounted on the base in opposed relation with the pair of standardsadapted to receive the garment therebetween, a shearing head mounted onthe second-mentioned standard and vertically adjustable thereon, meansfor securing said shearing head in adjusted positions relative to thesecond-mentioned standard, a cutting head mounted on the pair ofstandards for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, said cuttingand shearing heads having coacting cutting elements arranged to producea shearing cut on the garment therebetween, levers journaled on thecutting head about the pair of standards and having arms in positionsfor swinging movement into engagement with the shearing head forconnecting the heads together for adjustment to different verticalpositions and adapted to be withdrawn from said connection to receive agarment between the heads, means connected with said levers for lockingthe cutting head on the pair of standards when the levers are withdrawnfrom engagement with the shearing head, and power means on the basehaving a driving connection with one of the cutting elements for causingrelative cutting movements between said elements.

12. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base, a pair ofstandards mounted on said base in upstanding relation, a standardmounted on the base in opposed relation with the pair of standardsadapted to receive the garment therebetween, a shearing head mounted onthe second-mentioned standard and vertically adjustable thereon, meansfor securing said shearing head in adjusted positions relative to thesecond-mentioned standard, a cutting head mounted on the pair ofstandards for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, said cuttingand shearing heads having coacting cutting elements arranged to producea shearing cut on the garment therebetween, levers journaled on the.cutting head about the pair of standards and having arms in positionsfor swinging movement into engagement with the shearing head forconnecting the heads together for adjustment to different verticalpositions and adapted to be Withdrawn from said connection to receive agarment between the heads, means connected with said levers for lockingthe cutting head on the pair of standards when the levers are withdrawnfrom engagement with the shearing head, means pivotally supporting thesecond-mentioned standard on the base for swinging movement away fromthe pair of standards, and means for connecting the standards togetherfor holding said second-mentioned standard against swinging movementrelative to the pair of standards.

13. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of upstandingstandards, cutting heads carried by the respective'standards in opposedrelation and adapted to receive a garment therebetween for cutting, saidheads having coacting cutting elements mounted thereon, and means formounting the heads on the standards for adjustment to different verticalpositions and for securing said heads in adjusted positions.

14. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of upstandingstandards, cutting heads carried by the respective standards in opposedrelation and adapted to receive a garment therebetween for cutting, saidheads having coacting cutting elements mounted thereon, and means formounting the heads on the standards for adjustment to different verticalpositions and for securing said heads in adjusted positions, and meansfor connecting the heads together for joint adjustment thereof.

15. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of upstandingstandards, cutting heads carried by the respective standards in opposedrelation and adapted to receive a garment therebetween for cutting, saidheads having coacting cutting elements mounted thereon, and means formounting the heads on the standards for ad justment to differentvertical positions and for securing said heads in adjusted positions,and means for connecting the heads together for joint adjustmentthereof, said connecting means being constructed for withdrawal afteradjustment to receive the garment between the heads.

16. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base havingupstanding standards mounted thereon, means pivotally connecting one ofsaid standards with the base for swinging movement relative to anotherstandard, and coacting cutting elements carried by the relativelymovable standards and adapted to receive a garment therebetween.

17. In a garment cutting machine, the combination of a base havingupstanding standards thereon, coacting cutting elements mounted on therespective standards and adapted to receive a garment portiontherebetween, and means for mounting said standards on the base forrelative movement of the cutting elements toward and from each other.

ENRICO STANZIALE.

